The British car market has bucked the trend in Europe of an "absolutely
terrible" start to the year, according to some of the industry's most
senior leaders.

Speaking at the Geneva Motor Show, Toyota's European head Didier Leroy said January and February had been awful months for the European market, with Britain the exception, and said there was no way of knowing whether the bottom had been reached.

Ford's head of Europe Stephen Odell said the industry was facing several more challenging years in Europe.

"It feels at the moment we are running along the trough - the Italian election didn't help a great deal - but it does feel that the first half will be in the trough and perhaps in the second half we'll start to see the beginnings of what we think will be gradual and slow recovery.

I can't see us getting back to the 17/18 million (vehicles sold) any time sooner than five or six years. Who knows beyond that."

Mr Odell said it was in the process of closing its Southampton plant, bringing to an end a century of Ford vehicle production in the UK, and its stamping plant in Dagenham, but said Ford was committed to engine production in Britain for the long term.

Toyota's Mr Leroy said "Nobody knows what will happen in the market in e following 2-3 years. Six months ago many people said we've reached the bottom in the south of Europe, and now it's minus 10 or 15pc.

We strongly believe we've developed a business model in Europe, we have strong foundation and appropriate products to make sure that we sell more in 2013 than in 2012. But we will do it in a sustainable way, in a profitable way."

Mr Odell said its SUV models were performing more strongly than others, reflecting the broader trend where the luxury end of the market has performed more strongly, more protected against the weak economic backdrop and austerity facing Europe.

Luxury car maker Jaguar Land Rover has more than weathered the economic storm reporting record sales and profits despite the downturn. JLR's sales increased by around 30pc in Europe in 2012, and speaking in Geneva the company's chief executive Ralf Speth said similar momentum had been achieved into the new year. He said the company, which will launch eight new or refreshed models this year, was "very much committed to the UK", citing the 700 of additional new jobs and a further £150m of investment into its new engine plant in Wolverhampton, which is under construction. That takes jobs created there to 1400 and around £500m of investment.

Launches at the luxury end in Geneva included the production ready version McLaren's P1 super car, which will set consumer's back almost £900,000. The Woking-based company will make just 375 P1s, with production starting in July and first deliveries in September.

Mike Flewitt, chief operating officer of McLaren Automotive, said that it had received more than double expressions of interest. Production of the P1 will run for just 18 months, and the car will be able to reach speeds 0-300km in 17 seconds.

"You really need to control supply. If it doesn't have a degree of exclusivity you can undermine the whole cache and one of the things central to our ethos."

McLaren Automotive is planning on introducing a new or refreshed car every year.

The P1's rivals will include Ferrari's LaFerrari super car, which was also unveiled at Geneva.

Rolls-Royce also displayed its Wraith coupe in the luxury bracket, costing €245,000.

Nissan said it would build "as many as the market demanded", referring to its new version of the electric Nissan Leaf, which will start on the production line at its Sunderland plant later this month.